SaintRobbie

Who do you want then derry?

I think you're right... but I feel reluctant to give them the credit for such organisation in the first place.

Please go. Please fill the ground.

I was thinking that with regards to Keegan. The other thing that would worry me if Keegan got it (or Keane to be honest) would be his staying power... we need consistency now.

Surprised noone has mentioned Roy Keane yet.

I would lose optimism if he stayed and I suspect so would thousands of others. The fact that Wotte was the chief architect for the whole season of total youth rubbish and fed Lowe sweety mice in the first place makes him a no go IMHO - the season as a WHOLE needs to be considered when weighing up re-appointing Wotte. I just can't see it as an option to be considered by any new owner. He's history IMHO.

Certainly the worst comb-over I've seen in a while.

Adrian - as I tried to articulate above, assume League 1 at minus 10 points. I agree we dont know how much investment is coming but Fry has indicated there are at lease x3 'serious' contenders we can at least expect or reiterate to the new owners the importance of their selection of manager and the need for a long term candidate. FWIW, I'd like to see MLT and Benali run the team now - once it becomes certain we're going down - just so we see the season out with pride. But, wouldnt want MLT as a permanent manager, when I suspect we can have better.

Good call, but I suspect Shearer and Dowie will be the men to get the Toon back up to the Premiership at the end of next season and so will stay in post.

Not sure what you're getting at here Nexstar but any fan regardless of his or her depth of motivation for following The Saints is a Saints Fan first and foremost. 27000 odd fans turned out yesterday to watch Wotte's poor team underperform again. But they came. Reality is that we have 14000 diehards. The rest still love this club and many showed that yesterday by coming out. No such thing as a plastic fan - only Saints fans. Some give everything, some give as much as they can, some give when they can, some when the feel they can. Regardless of their motivation I loved seeing them all yesterday - highlight of the season so far.

OK ... even I didn't want to start this one until the end of the season but after yesterday's debacle I think we all know that Wotte is unlikely to remain in his position next season regardless of the outcome. Assuming the worst case - starting in League 1 with minus 10 points - who would we see as the best choice of manager for the new owners. The selection of the position of manager will be the most critical one the new owner(s) will need to make - and is worth investing in for success. Ultimately it is the manager who will make our team competitive again. I say MANAGER as that would be my preference - no coach, just a good old Manager! I also say WE NEED SOMEONE FOR THE LONG TERM. Whoever we bring in MUST be selected with a 6 year mandate. We've proved chopping and changing doesnt work. My choice? Paul Ince on a long contract. Hungry, knows the leagues, young enough to stay and rebuild this club with entertaining football. Good enough to motivate what we have (if necessary) to at least remain in League 1 this coming season. AND a man who will attract men to play for us. Who would you like to replace Wotte and why?

Agreed - Mr Fry please note.

What difference does it make - we loan out 4 players this season to save wages (one of which returns), pay the experienced players to sit in the stands and bring them back at the end of the season when the folly is exposed? How much more evidence of mismangement do you need to see by viewing bank slips? New hope is round the corner, too late for this team team though, which will - defeated and points deduction - move into League 1 and will need to be cleared out and rebuilt.

Unlike the professionals at Barclays Bank who effectively sacked him at the first opportunity when it was demonstrated he had no financial sense. Lowe's 'financial sense' was and is a myth. He's all-round bluff. A failure and a loser. He's gone. There's now hope.

Yep, and even faster with lack of quality kids. Edit: Also it depends how you define 'quality'. For me there's no better quality than experience. But, I take your point as if you're Arsenal and have the quality young players you can overcome that. Part of the reason this farce was never ever going to work was that we always sell our quality youth players and whilst we are a non-Premiership club we always will. You can only become a young man side if you are able to buy the quality youth in and attract them in the first place. We have a good youth set up but cannot whilst a CCC/League 1 team expect youth to work. Time to clear the youngsters out and rebuild. But first we need a manager.

I agree with that - Gillett would be one of the few young players I'd have on my retain list competing for a bench place. Size - Gillett - Lallana - DMG - possibly Holmes The rest? See ya.

Nick. We've been playing kids and paying men to sit on the bench or in the stands for 75% of the season. The strategy is flawed as is the argument - we've screwed our whole season up using kids. Thats why we're going down. We see a minor turnaround why? Because Wotte introduces some men. We slip again why? Wotte hasnt got a clue/other teams have cottoned on to our new team which - as was so clear yesterday - is playing like a team that doesnt know each other due to change, lack of rehearsal and maturity. We couldve sold this club to a plethora of potential buyers had Lowe not insisted on trying to make the plc survive for several years now. I am sorry, but we couldve afforded it. We only lost x4 men to loans, we paid the rest to sit in the stands. You not only dont win anything with kids Nick... you go down with kids.

Good summary for me that. Saga perhaps a 4-5. Wotton a 2-3. Size was a 3 for me. But comments are fair. Alot of the reason the players looked shocking was indeed long ball tactics from Wotte as well as players being out of position in midfield. New manager needed next season.

Indeed Nick. But sticking by my comment mate, and the new one that we need to clear out the majority of our youth players this summer. We need 1-2 young players - generally on the bench - competing for places. You dont win anything with kids. Still too many on that pitch. As for the Surman, very poor - almost looked as if he wasnt up for it IMHO. Inclined to sell him. BWP, best he's played in a while but out of position and needs regular games, Rudi started playing in the last 10 mins, Wotton has never been good enough, Euell was OK, Perry steady but muscled out too much, I've mention Davis as being key and Saga was trying but slow in the first half because I suspect the manager had held them back to try and play the game over 2 halves in the conditions. The men we have are quality, you dont just lose that, but they need a manager. The kids? Out of their depth. 1-2 on the bench COMPETING for a place and determined to prove themselves is all we require in the 1st team. So, we need to buy 7 men at least and a decent manager... and I hope the new owners now realise that. (I suspect they do).

LOL! Tea to monitor moment there! How about: Rupert Lowe looks shocked after keeping Saints up for the first time.

Post his picture on here and I suspect 28000 fans will at the next match at home.

With apologies to Saint Lard for finding it... 'What?! That's a football I'm pointing at not a hockey ball? Doh...!'

Wotte's team has been getting progressively worse for the last 2-3 home games. I wasnt surprised to be honest. He'll be gone soon, and hopefully so will many of our kids.

At least we had a high point, despite the performance! I'm afraid my reading of it - backed by several home performances this season - is that our youth players lack the guts and maturity to play in the big games. Our team also has an unprofessional manager, who also lost it. I have not witnessed a 'good run' recently but a general slide in performances over the last 2-3 home games under Wotte. He knows as we do and as does the team, that he will not be in the chair regardless of the results left to play out. Not that many fans left to be honest, and frankly I dont care what people do. I am surprised that after one of the worst performances at SMS this season more didnt walk. But, not many booed either. The reality is that the majority of Saints fans are not diehards but at least expect determination, guts, desire, skill, composure and not to be utterly defeated by the worst team in the league. Still the majority stayed to make a point - 'SOUTHAMPTON FC will be supported new owners... please invest.' New owners 19 as the fans never made the same point to Mr Lowe. For me? The high point: Seeing a near full stadium. Made the trip worth it when the singing started and DMGs goal gave me the first goosebumps of the campaign this season. The low point - our manager is making our team of kids worse. I hope we clear out the broken youth in the summer (with 2-3 notable exceptions), invest in a new manager and buy 7 men who want to wear the shirt and have courage and personality. What's more I guess a footballing man like Lawrie Mac will know that too, because he is a footballing man. We have the infrastructure, we have the fans again, now we need a manager and a team!

Wotte is going to lead us down. We are likely to relegate. We are likely to lose 10 points. Wouldnt ordinarily suggest this as I would like MLT to stay well away and be a legend without ruining his record with us... but.... Benali and MLT as a TEMPORARY management team unil the end of the season would at least keep SMS packed. Sack Wotte now? Try and add some real red and white spirit into the players? We're down anyway IMHO. May as well start to play for pride.